Lebin ends directorship of Iloilo police

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Senior Supt. Gil Lebin ended his 2-year and 8-month stint as chief of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) last July 1, and is now assigned to the Police Regional Office-6 for a higher position.

The order of Lebin’s relief also came with the appointment of Sr. Supt. Celestino Guara as officer-in-charge of the IPPO, pending the choice of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. for a permanent head of the provincial police command.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, director of the Police Regional Office-6, said the governor was still waiting for someone from other region to head the IPPO, but did not identify who will he be.

There were reports however, that Defensor’s preference was Sr. Supt. Cornelio Salinas, a native of Maasin town in Iloilo, who is now the director of the North Cotabato provincial police.

Cruz said there will be more reliefs and assignments under his command in the coming months, most of which will involve chiefs of police from various towns in Western Visayas.

One of which is the reported reassignment of Sr. Supt. Milko Lizaran from his post as director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office. “Lizaran is senior for the position he is currently holding,” said Cruz.

On the other hand, a change of command also took place at the Guimaras Police Provincial Office (GPPO) where Sr. Supt. Ricardo Dela Paz officially assumed as its OIC-director, replacing Sr. Supt. Larry Desena who was also moved to the PRO-6.

Dela Paz made a courtesy call on Governor Samuel Gumarin before meeting the town police chiefs of the island-province for peace and order situation assessment. (FREEMAN)